Streets vacated for new project

Development plan draws objections from nearby stores

The Tuscaloosa City Council ordered two streets to vacated to make room for a proposed development.

Staff graphic | Anthony Bratina

By Jason MortonStaff Writer

Published: Wednesday, June 19, 2013 at 3:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, June 19, 2013 at 12:00 a.m.

TUSCALOOSA | Two streets between McFarland Boulevard and Dr. Edward Hillard Drive were vacated Tuesday by the City Council to make way for a new, $50 million shopping center.

Alumni Development & Construction LLC of Clanton requested the street vacating to make way for its proposed 248,000-square-foot retail project now dubbed “The Shoppes at Legacy Park,” which is expected to bring a specialty grocer; national sporting goods, pet and home stores; and a restaurant all of which will be new to the Tuscaloosa market.

The Office of the City Attorney and the city's Planning and Zoning Commission earlier this month recommended vacating the streets. The Council approved vacating 14th Street East and 13th Place East on the condition that the retail development be completed as designed.

However, the street vacating met with objections of some nearby property owners, including the family-owned company that has the franchise for the McFarland Boulevard Krispy Kreme.

In a series of emails sent to city officials, engineers speaking on behalf of the Krispy Kreme store said the proposed layout and street vacating could eliminate the doughnut maker's primary entrance and exit for trucks delivering materials.

“I am letting all parties know that we are opposed to the current layout,” said engineer Bill McGuire, president of RCI Contractors & Engineers Inc., in a letter sent Tuesday to the City Council, city staff members, and others. “We are in favor of the development, and as we said, we'll support your efforts, but we cannot give up our only means of ingress/egress for the truck that supplies our store with raw products.”

Brendan Moore, the city's development ombudsman, told council members that Alumni Development is working with Krispy Kreme and others to address their concerns.

“The developer is more than willing to work with the adjacent property owners to ensure proper ingress and egress to their respective sites,” Moore said.

During a public hearing before a vote on the project, Alumni Development showed the City Council an updated site plan for the development.

With the addition of approximately two acres, the 16.25-acre tract is now expected to feature almost 142,000 square feet of retail space for up to six anchor stores, 20,500 square feet of one-story retail space, 38,400 square feet of two-story space and space for an additional 47,370 square feet of future retail space.

A large parking lot is planned for the center of the project, but a parking deck depicted in an earlier version of the plan has now been eliminated, according to the latest plan.

The development is bordered by McFarland Boulevard to the east, Dr. Edward Hillard Drive to the west and 13th Street East.

The project is slated to go before the Zoning Board of Adjustment later this month for the consideration of 12 variances from city zoning requirements. The developers are seeking permission to deviate from rules on parking requirements, pedestrian access and building setbacks.

Councilman Lee Garrison urged the board to grant the developers' requests after being assured by the developers that the area will be heavily landscaped, have underground utilities and screens and buffer zones from nearby residents.

Keith Owens of Alumni Development said work on the project has been building for months and that an announcement on some of the tenants could come within the next two weeks.

“We believe there's enough room in the Tuscaloosa market to support new-to-market retailers and benefit from shops like those currently in Shelby County and other parts of the Birmingham market,” Owens said. “We believe it will be something Tuscaloosa will be proud of.”

<p>TUSCALOOSA | Two streets between McFarland Boulevard and Dr. Edward Hillard Drive were vacated Tuesday by the City Council to make way for a new, $50 million shopping center.</p><p>Alumni Development & Construction LLC of Clanton requested the street vacating to make way for its proposed 248,000-square-foot retail project now dubbed “The Shoppes at Legacy Park,” which is expected to bring a specialty grocer; national sporting goods, pet and home stores; and a restaurant all of which will be new to the Tuscaloosa market. </p><p>The Office of the City Attorney and the city's Planning and Zoning Commission earlier this month recommended vacating the streets. The Council approved vacating 14th Street East and 13th Place East on the condition that the retail development be completed as designed.</p><p>However, the street vacating met with objections of some nearby property owners, including the family-owned company that has the franchise for the McFarland Boulevard Krispy Kreme.</p><p>In a series of emails sent to city officials, engineers speaking on behalf of the Krispy Kreme store said the proposed layout and street vacating could eliminate the doughnut maker's primary entrance and exit for trucks delivering materials.</p><p>“I am letting all parties know that we are opposed to the current layout,” said engineer Bill McGuire, president of RCI Contractors & Engineers Inc., in a letter sent Tuesday to the City Council, city staff members, and others. “We are in favor of the development, and as we said, we'll support your efforts, but we cannot give up our only means of ingress/egress for the truck that supplies our store with raw products.”</p><p>Brendan Moore, the city's development ombudsman, told council members that Alumni Development is working with Krispy Kreme and others to address their concerns.</p><p>“The developer is more than willing to work with the adjacent property owners to ensure proper ingress and egress to their respective sites,” Moore said.</p><p>During a public hearing before a vote on the project, Alumni Development showed the City Council an updated site plan for the development.</p><p>With the addition of approximately two acres, the 16.25-acre tract is now expected to feature almost 142,000 square feet of retail space for up to six anchor stores, 20,500 square feet of one-story retail space, 38,400 square feet of two-story space and space for an additional 47,370 square feet of future retail space.</p><p>A large parking lot is planned for the center of the project, but a parking deck depicted in an earlier version of the plan has now been eliminated, according to the latest plan.</p><p>The development is bordered by McFarland Boulevard to the east, Dr. Edward Hillard Drive to the west and 13th Street East.</p><p>The project is slated to go before the Zoning Board of Adjustment later this month for the consideration of 12 variances from city zoning requirements. The developers are seeking permission to deviate from rules on parking requirements, pedestrian access and building setbacks.</p><p>Councilman Lee Garrison urged the board to grant the developers' requests after being assured by the developers that the area will be heavily landscaped, have underground utilities and screens and buffer zones from nearby residents.</p><p>Keith Owens of Alumni Development said work on the project has been building for months and that an announcement on some of the tenants could come within the next two weeks.</p><p>“We believe there's enough room in the Tuscaloosa market to support new-to-market retailers and benefit from shops like those currently in Shelby County and other parts of the Birmingham market,” Owens said. “We believe it will be something Tuscaloosa will be proud of.”</p><p>Reach Jason Morton at jason.morton@tuscaloosanews.com or 205-722-0200.</p>